Abraham
Ibrâhîm
ابراہیم
Surah Ibrâhîm for kids content
LEARNING POINTS
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Allah has blessed us with so many things.
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We should be grateful for Allah's blessings.
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Instead of following the truth, the disbelievers always argue with their messengers.
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On Judgment Day, the disbelievers will be let down by Shaytan as well as their evil leaders.
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The wicked will beg for mercy in Hell, but it will be too late.
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This surah gives a strong warning to the idol-worshippers to change their ways.
WARNING TO THE DISBELIEVERS
1Alif-Lam-Ra. 'This is' a Book which We have revealed to you 'O Prophet' to lead people out of darkness and into light, by the permission of their Lord, towards the Path of the Almighty, the One de-serving all praise
2Allah, Who owns whatever is in the heavens and what-ever is on the earth. It will be horrible for the disbelievers because of a severe punishment!
3'They are' the ones who favour this life over the Next Life and prevent 'others' from the Way of Allah, trying to make it'appear' crooked. They have completely lost their way.
الٓرۚ كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ إِلَيۡكَ لِتُخۡرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِيدِ1
ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ وَوَيۡلٞ لِّلۡكَٰفِرِينَ مِنۡ عَذَابٖ شَدِيدٍ2
ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَحِبُّونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا عَلَى ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبۡغُونَهَا عِوَجًاۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ فِي ضَلَٰلِۢ بَعِيدٖ3
DELIVERING THE MESSAGE
4We never sent a messenger unless he spoke the language of his people to make things clear for them. Then Allah leaves whoever He wants to stray and guides whoever He wants. And He is the Almighty and Wise.
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوۡمِهِۦ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمۡۖ فَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِي مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ4
PROPHET MUSA
5We certainly sent Musa with Our signs, 'ordering him, 'Lead your people out of darkness and into light, and remind them of Allah's days 'of tests and blessings'' Surely in this are signs for whoever is patient and grateful.
6And so Musa said to his people, 'Remember Allah's favours upon you when He res-cued you from the people of Pharaoh, who put you through a horrible pun-ishmentslaughtering your sons and keeping your Women. That was a severe test from your Lord.
7'And remember' when your Lord declared, 'If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My pun-ishment is severe.'
8Musa added, 'Even if you and everyone on earth became ungrateful, then 'know that' Allah is not in need and He deserves all praise.'
وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوسَىٰ بَِٔايَٰتِنَآ أَنۡ أَخۡرِجۡ قَوۡمَكَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَذَكِّرۡهُم بِأَيَّىٰمِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٖ شَكُور5
وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنجَىٰكُم مِّنۡ ءَالِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ يَسُومُونَكُمۡ سُوٓءَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبۡنَآءَكُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمۡۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ عَظِيمٞ6
وَإِذۡ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمۡ لَئِن شَكَرۡتُمۡ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمۡۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرۡتُمۡ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٞ7
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِن تَكۡفُرُوٓاْ أَنتُمۡ وَمَن فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعٗا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ8
WARNING TO MAKKAN DENIERS
9Have you not 'already' received the sto-ries of those who were before you: the people of Nuh, Ad, Thamud, and those after them? Only Allah knows how many they were. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they put their hands over their mouths and said, 'We totally reject what you have been sent with, and we really have serious doubts about what you are inviting us to.'
أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَبَؤُاْ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ قَوۡمِ نُوحٖ وَعَادٖ وَثَمُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُهُمۡ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُۚ جَآءَتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ فَرَدُّوٓاْ أَيۡدِيَهُمۡ فِيٓ أَفۡوَٰهِهِمۡ وَقَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا كَفَرۡنَا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَفِي شَكّٖ مِّمَّا تَدۡعُونَنَآ إِلَيۡهِ مُرِيب9
DISBELIEVERS' ARGUMENTS
10Their messengers asked 'them', 'Is there any doubt about Allah, the Cre-ator of the heavens and the earth? He is inviting you to forgive your sins, and de-lay your end until your set time.' They argued, 'You are just humans like us! You 'only' wish to turn us away from what our fathers worshipped. So bring us some clear proof'
11Their messen-gers said to them, 'It is true that we are just humans like you, but Allah favours whoever He chooses of His servants. It is not possible for us to bring you any proof without Allah's permission. And in Allah let the believers put their trust.
12Why should we not put our trust in Allah, when He has truly guided us to the best of ways? We will certainly be patient with whatever harm you may do to us. And in Allah let the faithful put their trust.
قَالَتۡ رُسُلُهُمۡ أَفِي ٱللَّهِ شَكّٞ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ يَدۡعُوكُمۡ لِيَغۡفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمۡ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗىۚ قَالُوٓاْ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا بَشَرٞ مِّثۡلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعۡبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأۡتُونَا بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِين10
قَالَتۡ لَهُمۡ رُسُلُهُمۡ إِن نَّحۡنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٞ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۖ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأۡتِيَكُم بِسُلۡطَٰنٍ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلۡيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ11
وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدۡ هَدَىٰنَا سُبُلَنَاۚ وَلَنَصۡبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاذَيۡتُمُونَاۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلۡيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلُونَ12
SIDE STORY
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The famous boxer, Muhammad Ali, once said, "I don't smoke but I keep a matchbox in my pocket.
When my heart slips towards sin, I burn a matchstick and heat my palm with it, then say to myself, 'Ali, you can't even bear this heat, how would you bear the unbearable heat of Hellfire?'"
WORDS OF WISDOM
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The Quran usually talks about Paradise and Hell in the same surah to show how awesome Jannah is compared to the horrors of Jahannam. In Surah 50, we spoke about Jannah, so let's talk about Jahannam here.
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• According to the Quran, Hell is the worst place to be in. Those who stay there can't live or die, but will suffer terribly (14:17 and 20:74).
They will literally beg for death, but they will be told (43:77), "You are here to stay." When they cry for the punishment to be lightened, they will be told (78:30), "The only thing you will get from Us is more punishment."
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• Hell is such a horrible place that if a person is dipped into it for just a second then taken out, they will forget about all the pleasures of the world. {Imam Muslim}
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• They will be so thirsty that they will end up drinking boiling water and nasty filth (38:57). When they beg for cold, refreshing water, they will be told (7:50), "Allah has forbidden it to you."
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• Their skin will be completely burned in Hell and then replaced with fresh, new skin so that they can be punished again and again (4:56).
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• They will be able to see the people of Jannah, which will make them feel more horrible about their situation (7:50).
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• Hell has many levels. The lowest level is reserved for the hypocrites (4:145).
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• The disbelievers will be in Hell forever. As for Muslims who did horrible things and end up in the Fire, they will eventually be taken out and sent to Jannah once their punishment is over. No Muslim will stay in Hell forever.
WORDS OF WISDOM
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Someone may ask, "What do I need to do to avoid going to Hell and enjoy Jannah instead?" These are some of the things you should do:
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• Have faith in Allah and avoid making anything equal to Him.
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• Do the things that please Allah and avoid the things that displease Him to the best of your ability.
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• Always keep Allah in mind.
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• Pray and do other acts of worship that bring you closer to Allah.
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• Follow the example of the Prophet (ﷺ) and have good manners.
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• Be sincere when you do good.
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• Repent if you sin.
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• Respect your parents and take good care of them.
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• Love for others what you love for yourself and hate for them what you hate for yourself.
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• Be grateful in good times and patient in difficult times.
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• Be humble, kind, and honest with people.
DISBELIEVERS' FATE
13The disbelievers then threatened their messengers, 'We will definitely ex-pel you from our land, unless you return to our faith.' So their Lord revealed to them, 'We will surely destroy those do-ing wrong,
14and We will settle you in the land after them. This 'promise' is for anyone who fears standing in front of Me and fears My warning.'
15So both sides called for judgment, and every stubborn abuser was doomed.
16Hell is waiting for them, and they will be left to drink nasty filth,
17which they will sip with difficulty, and can hardly swallow. Death will attack them from every side, yet they will not 'be able to' die. Even still, much more suffering will follow.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِرُسُلِهِمۡ لَنُخۡرِجَنَّكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِنَآ أَوۡ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَاۖ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ لَنُهۡلِكَنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ13
وَلَنُسۡكِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامِي وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ14
وَٱسۡتَفۡتَحُواْ وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيد15
مِّن وَرَآئِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ وَيُسۡقَىٰ مِن مَّآءٖ صَدِيد16
يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ وَيَأۡتِيهِ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٖ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٖۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٞ17
WORDS OF WISDOM
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Someone may ask, "We know that Allah is fair, but how come non-Muslims will not be rewarded for their good deeds, according to verse 18?" Let me answer this good question by telling you a quick story. Let's say John is a very good man, who works for a big company.
He is always smiling and even buys food for his co-workers. However, John never listens to his boss. When his boss tells him to come to the office at 9am, John arrives at 2pm. When his boss tells him to do something, he does the exact opposite.
When his boss asks him to attend important meetings, he never shows up. Now, do you think John deserves to get a raise or a promotion just because he is a nice, cheerful, and generous person? Allah is our Master. He created us and gave us everything we need.
He made everything serve us so we can serve Him. He wants us to do 2 things: 1) Worship Him alone, and 2) Do good. That's all. These 2 requirements are necessary to go to Jannah and receive the reward for our good deeds.
What if someone doesn't obey Allah, worships something else, and does the opposite of what Allah wants them to do? If you don't listen to your teachers or parents when they ask you to do something good, would you expect them to reward you?
However, because Allah is fair, He will reward the non-Muslims for all the good things they do in this life, by giving them good health and money, for example. Some will even receive medals or awards, and some will have schools or streets named after them.
But in the Next Life, they will not get any more rewards.
WORDS OF WISDOM
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Someone may ask, "Are all non-Muslims going to Hell?" One thing we know for a fact: Allah is the Judge. Only He can say who is going to Jahannam, whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim.
We can't go around telling people, "Oh, this person is going to Paradise and that person is going to Hell." That being said, both Allah and His Prophet (ﷺ) have already told us what people need to do if they want to go to Jannah and stay away from Hell.
Those who have faith in Allah, do good, worship Him alone, and follow the prophet of their time are called 'Muslims' in the Quran.
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So, the Jews who believed in Musa (A.S.) until the coming of 'Isa (A.S.) were actually called Muslims. Those who followed 'Isa (A.S.) until the coming of Muhammad (ﷺ) are also called Muslims.
Once Muhammad (ﷺ) came, those who heard of his beautiful message should recognize him as the final prophet. Now, only those who have accepted him are called Muslims.
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Allah tells us in the Quran that He will not punish people until He has sent them a messenger to explain the message clearly (17:15 and 28:59).
So, as far as the mission of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is concerned, people will be divided into 4 groups on Judgment Day, based on whether they received his message and how they responded: 1. Those who hear of his message very clearly and choose to accept it will be rewarded. 2.
Those who hear of his message very clearly but choose to reject it will be punished. 3. Those who never hear of his message will have their faith tested by Allah on that Day. 4. Those who hear only lies and misinformation about Islam will likely be with the 3rd group.
And Allah knows best.
WASTED DEEDS
18The deeds of those who disbelieve in their Lord are just like ashes violently blown away by wind on a stormy day. They will gain nothing from what they have done. That is really the biggest loss.
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡۖ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشۡتَدَّتۡ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِي يَوۡمٍ عَاصِفٖۖ لَّا يَقۡدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُواْ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءٖۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَٰلُ ٱلۡبَعِيدُ18
A REMINDER TO HUMANITY
19Do you not see that Allah has created the heavens and the earth for a reason? If He wanted, He could remove you and produce a new creation.
20And that is not difficult for Allah 'at all'.
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ إِن يَشَأۡ يُذۡهِبۡكُمۡ وَيَأۡتِ بِخَلۡقٖ جَدِيدٖ19
وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيز20
DISBELIEVERS ARGUE IN HELL
21They will all appear in front of Al-lah, and the 'weak followers' will beg the 'arrogant leaders', 'We were your faithful' followers, so can you do any-thing to protect us from Allah's pun-ishment?' They will reply, 'If Allah had guided us, we would have guided you. Now, it does not matter if we complain or keep quiet. There is no escape for us.'
وَبَرَزُواْ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعٗا فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَٰٓؤُاْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُوٓاْ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمۡ تَبَعٗا فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّغۡنُونَ عَنَّا مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَيۡءٖۚ قَالُواْ لَوۡ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيۡنَٰكُمۡۖ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡنَآ أَجَزِعۡنَآ أَمۡ صَبَرۡنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيص21
SIDE STORY
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Imam Abu Hanifah was one of the greatest scholars of Islam. One day, a man came to him and complained, "Dear Imam!
I have a big problem: a few weeks ago, I hid some gold somewhere but I forgot where I put it." The Imam advised him, "I want you to pray Isha tonight, then make the intention to stand the whole night in salah, then come back to me in the morning." The man thanked him for the advice, but he was not sure if it would work.
However, the man came back in the morning and was very happy. He told the Imam that as soon as he made the intention to pray the whole night, he remembered where the gold was, so he went and dug it out, then went straight to bed.
With a smile on his face, Imam Abu Hanifah said, "I knew that Shaytan would never let you pray the whole night."
BACKGROUND STORY
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Shaytan is humanity's biggest enemy. His goal is to distract us from obeying Allah and to get us in trouble. Those who fall for his tricks will realize the evil consequences in the Next Life, when it's already too late.
On Judgment Day, the faithful will get the good news of Jannah. Some Muslims who deserve to be punished for their misdeeds will end up in Paradise after the Prophet (ﷺ) speaks in their defense.
When the disbelievers realize that they are doomed, they will blame Shaytan for their big loss and beg him to do anything to save them from Hell. Shaytan will then stand up and give them the speech mentioned in verse 22.
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They will be extremely frustrated and disappointed because Shaytan will tell them that: Whatever Allah told them through His prophets was true, but Shaytan deceived them with false hopes. He had no authority over them in this life, but they chose to follow him on their own.
They shouldn't blame him, they should blame themselves. He had nothing to do with their disbelief. He can't save them and they can't save him. They will all suffer a horrible punishment.
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The fact that Allah warns us in advance is a huge blessing. Therefore, we should accept His advice and take Shaytan as an enemy, not as a friend. {Imam Al-Qurtubi}
SATAN'S SPEECH
22And Satan will say 'to his followers' af-ter the judgment has been passed, 'Sure-ly Allah has made you a true promise. I too made you a promise, but I failed you. I did not have any authority over you. I only called you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me, blame your-selves. I cannot save you, you cannot save me. I have absolutely nothing to do with how you obeyed me 'instead of Allah' in the past. Those who did wrong will defi-nitely suffer a painful punishment'
وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِيَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمۡ وَعۡدَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمۡ فَأَخۡلَفۡتُكُمۡۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّن سُلۡطَٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوۡتُكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَجَبۡتُمۡ لِيۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۖ مَّآ أَنَا۠ بِمُصۡرِخِكُمۡ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصۡرِخِيَّ إِنِّي كَفَرۡتُ بِمَآ أَشۡرَكۡتُمُونِ مِن قَبۡلُۗ إِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيم22
REWARD OF THE BELIEVERS
23Those who believed and did good will be entered into Gardens, under which rivers flow-to stay there forever by the permission of their Lordwhere they will be greeted with 'Peace!'
وَأُدۡخِلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِمۡۖ تَحِيَّتُهُمۡ فِيهَا سَلَٰمٌ23
GOOD AND EVIL WORDS
24Do you not see how Allah compares a good word to a good tree? Its root is sta-ble and its branches reach the sky,
25'always' producing its fruit in every season by the permission of its Lord. This is how Allah gives examples for the people, so perhaps they will learn a lesson.
26And the example of an evil word is that of an evil tree, uprooted from the earth, hay-ing no stability.
أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلٗا كَلِمَةٗ طَيِّبَةٗ كَشَجَرَةٖ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصۡلُهَا ثَابِتٞ وَفَرۡعُهَا فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ24
تُؤۡتِيٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينِۢ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهَاۗ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ25
وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٖ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجۡتُثَّتۡ مِن فَوۡقِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَار26
SIDE STORY
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This is a story of an Imam who held a class in his living room, teaching his students about 'la ilaha illa Allah' ('no god deserves worship except Allah'). The students knew how much the Imam loved pets, so one of them gifted him a colorful parrot to keep in his living room.
By the end of the first class, the parrot was able to say 'la ilaha illa Allah' perfectly. The bird kept saying it day and night. Every time it shouted 'la ilaha illa Allah', everyone laughed.
On the last day of the class, the students found the Imam crying because the parrot had been killed by one of his cats.
They offered to buy him another parrot, but he said, "I'm crying because the parrot kept saying 'la ilaha illa Allah' with its tongue but when the cat attacked it, the bird just started screaming.
I'm afraid that I too keep saying 'la ilaha illa Allah' with my tongue but it's not established in my heart."